Governor Cuomo Announces Partnership with Walmart, PepsiCo, and FreshDirect to Provide 3,000 Meals to New York Families

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State is partnering with Walmart, PepsiCo and FreshDirect this Thanksgiving Week to help deliver more than 3,000 meals to families in need.

The meals will be provided by Walmart; PepsiCo will be donating 2,800 beverages, including juice and other drinks, and FreshDirect will provide 3,000 boxes to help with the transport and delivery of goods. The meals will be assembled and distributed by members of the New York National Guard this week. In addition, Walmart will donate more than $1 million to food banks and local charities across the state.

As New Yorkers gather with families across New York for Thanksgiving, it is also a time to celebrate the spirit of giving and lend a hand to those less fortunate, Governor Cuomo said. Thanks to the generosity of Walmart, PepsiCo and FreshDirect, more than 3,000 New York families in need will be receiving a Thanksgiving meal this week as the National Guard begins deliveries to communities today. In addition, I am pleased to announce a $1 million donation from Walmart that will provide a major boost to the work of New Yorks food banks and local charities to help even more New Yorkers put food on their tables during this holiday season. We thank our corporate partners for their assistance in brightening the holidays for many New Yorkers.

Julie Murphy, senior vice president of Walmart, said, We know that every day, across the country, people are struggling to put food on their tables. We are proud to partner with Governor Cuomo and the State of New York to assist those who are hungry, just as we did last year in assisting the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Together with many hunger relief organizations throughout the state, were working to make this Thanksgiving a little brighter for many. But its important to emphasize that this effort must continue throughout the year. The need is great, and we encourage everybody to help in every way they can.

John Stevenson, Senior Vice President, Business Development, PepsiCo, said, PepsiCo is deeply committed to New York State and we applaud Governor Cuomos leadership in organizing this effort. There are New Yorkers across the state who could use a helping hand this time of year and we stand ready to do our part to support our communities.

FreshDirect CEO and co-founder Jason Ackerman said, As a local company, we share Governor Cuomo's commitment to helping those who need it most and are grateful to be part of the states effort to make sure our fellow New Yorkers can enjoy the holiday.

Walmarts donations for hunger relief in New York, part of a larger campaign of regular donations to food banks and other contributions throughout the nation, will go to the following food banks and local charities:

Capital Region

Albany - Food Pantries for the Capital District, Inc. $55,000

Latham - Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York $30,000

Albany - Albany United Methodist Society Inc., $25,000

Southern Tier

Binghamton - Associated Catholic Charities Broome County, $75,000

New York City

NYC - City Harvest, Inc. $116,379

NYC - One Hundred Black Men, Inc. $75,000

NYC - Iris House: a Center for Women Living With HIV, Inc. $66,000

NYC - Bailey House, Inc., $30,000

NYC - Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen $25,000

NYC Coalition Against Hunger $50,000

Finger Lakes / Rochester-area

Batavia - Care-A-Van Ministries, Inc., $60,000

Rochester - Gilda's Club Rochester/Cancer Action Inc. $25,000

Western New York

Buffalo - Food Bank of Western New York, Inc. $164,061

Long Island

Hempstead - Interfaith Nutrition Network $75,000

Hudson Valley

Pleasantville Hillside Food Outreach $37,000

Kingston - Operation Homefront Tri-State$25,000

Nanuet Meals on Wheels of Rockland County $25,000

Central New York

Syracuse - Jewish Home of Central New York $75,000

Total hunger giving: $1,033,000

New Yorkers looking to donate or volunteer should visit www.foodbankassocnys.org to find their regional food bank.

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